A very poor showing by team and car during the Japanese Grand Prix has led McLaren’s two drivers to publicly criticise the car as a whole. Fernando Alonso, who found himself passed by both Toro Rossos with seeming ease, described the woeful MP4-30 as something which would be found in GP2. Whilst Jenson Button was somewhat less harsh regarding his views on the car, he did not seem best pleased when he was overtaken by Felipe Nasr and Max Verstappen in a similar style to Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher on Ricardo Zonta, with the difference being Button was driving flat out unlike Zonta on that occasion. This has led to rumours that both World Champions will call it quits at the end of the year, despite both having at least one more year on their current contract. These comments have not gone down well with Ron Dennis either, who has admitted that he will need to deal with this in his own way, and could only reiterate that the two drivers have contracts for next year when asked about whether they will be driving next year.
2015 Japanese Grand Prix McLaren Review
No. 14 Fernando Alonso
Qualifying: P14 (Started P12)
Race: P11
The first signs of strain with Fernando Alonso this weekend was evident in qualifying, where he could only qualify 14th despite pulling out what he called ‘the best lap of Suzuka in his career’. He started well, making his way into the points, and despite his best efforts, he was unable to hold off the two charging Toro Rossos, with Verstappen making his way past the two-time World Champion around the outside into the first corner. When asked about whether he will be racing in F1 next year, Alonso could only say ‘I do not know’. It’s clear that there are tensions between Alonso and McLaren once again, and his comments at Honda’s home track will not go down well at all.
No. 22 Jenson Button
Qualifying: P16 (Started P14)
Race: P16
Button was not given the correct commands during qualifying, which led him to losing power halfway through the lap. He could only finish 16th in Q1, getting knocked out. The 2011 winner had a much tougher time of proceedings at Suzuka, only able to finish a lowly 16th, only ahead of the Williams of Felipe Massa which lost two laps early on, and the two Manors. Button looked clearly like a man not enjoying F1 at the moment, and he has dodged questions regarding where he will be next year.
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